The Celibate Tycoon Has Fallen-Chapter 72: Aren’t You Tired of Playing?

Shawn Thorne scrutinized Yelena Hughes’s face, uncertain if she would agree.

If it were him, he wouldn’t.

The life and death of others, what does that matter to him?

"What activity?" Her tightly pressed lips moved slightly.

"A money-making job, rest assured, it’s clean money, and you won’t be shortchanged. The sum is considerable."

Yelena Hughes was truly uneasy about Madeline Forest going alone; she feared she’d be too impulsive, unable to stay calm, and suffer losses.

Shawn Thorne abruptly leaned toward her ear, "Young Master Yale will be there, too."

Yelena Hughes’s heart skipped a beat, instinctively wanting to flee. "Master Thorne, I’m sure I haven’t offended you. Madeline just doesn’t want to see me lose my life. Why are you targeting us like this?"

"I want Jasper Yale to utterly despise you."

"Why?"

Shawn Thorne’s mouth formed a grin, "That way, he won’t care about your life or death, won’t even want to look at you, which means whatever I want to do to you later, he won’t interfere."

What Yelena Hughes feared most was this—her opponent wasn’t here to mock her but was like a mad dog she could never shake off, biting once and never letting go.

Even if she managed to gather a million, the dog’s teeth might still pierce her flesh, hard to pull out.

"Are you going or not?"

Yelena Hughes nodded, "Going."

"Are you cursing me in your heart?"

Yelena Hughes forced a smile, "No, I don’t have the guts to."

Of course, she couldn’t let Shawn Thorne know that she was calling him a vicious dog in her heart.

On that day, Shawn Thorne had a driver take a car to The Sovereign Club to pick up people.

Chester learned about this and was very worried, "It’s not that I’m not letting you go, but are you aware of how wild those people play? Even if no one dies, they won’t let you two off easily."

Madeline Forest was on the verge of tears, "Chester, what else can I do? This is a dead end."

Yelena Hughes walked over to hold her in her arms, "A dead end, but there can be a way if we break through the wall."

She refused to believe—Yelena Hughes knew this was a muddy path, but even if her bones were crushed, she would climb back up.

At night, the cold wind whipped the lake water against the man-made beach.

A few yachts were docked at the lakeside, bright lights stretched along the sand and towering trees, like a dragon winding into the distance.

Yelena Hughes and Madeline Forest were taken aboard the deck, where Shawn Thorne awaited impatiently. "Why are you just arriving?"

No one answered him.

Shawn Thorne paused, "There are many people inside; I hope you behave. If you make me lose face or feel unhappy, there will be consequences, understand?"

Yelena Hughes understood clearly, "Understood."

Shawn Thorne led them into the yacht’s second-floor hall, as Yelena Hughes was about to enter, a mocking voice rang out.

"Master Thorne, you said you’d bring two busty beauties. Where are they?"

"Why rush? They’re here now, aren’t they?"

Shawn Thorne stepped aside, and Yelena Hughes and Madeline Forest found themselves openly in the gaze of many.

Both wore thick coats, wrapped tightly. Yelena Hughes surveyed the room—there seemed to be about thirty people, men and women.

Luckily, she hadn’t seen Jasper Yale.

Yelena Hughes breathed a sigh of relief; she really didn’t want him to witness her embarrassment.

"I don’t know if she’s busty, but this girl is really pretty." A middle-aged man unabashedly cast his gaze at Yelena Hughes.

Shawn Thorne felt proud and reached to hug her but was dodged by Yelena Hughes.

"Oh, the girl Master Thorne brought has a bit of a temper."

Shawn Thorne didn’t mind, "Women, they tend to be a little feisty."

He adjusted his move to pat her on the shoulder instead, "Eat something first; after getting full, you’ll have the energy to play later."

Madeline Forest followed Yelena Hughes to the food area and saw many people picking up plates to take food.

"Yelena Hughes, are you hungry?"

"Don’t eat the food here, not even a bite."

Madeline Forest nodded, "Okay."

Shawn Thorne wasn’t quite normal; birds of a feather flock together, and his friends wouldn’t be much better.

Yelena Hughes stood by the window, half-open, with cold air pouring in, making her shiver.

She glanced at the distant lake, "Madeline, can you swim?"

"I want to learn, but hiring a coach is too expensive."

Yelena Hughes closed the window. She didn’t know what they would face next. If pushed to a dead end, she’d even considered jumping into the lake to escape; perhaps she’d survive.

The crowd played for a while. Shawn Thorne, open shirted, held a wineglass in hand, gestured at the two.

"Come here."

The main scene was about to begin.

Yelena Hughes and Madeline Forest followed Shawn Thorne outside, feeling unsure under their feet on the wooden deck.

"Make sure to perform well for me; if you win tonight, you’ll be rewarded handsomely!"

A woman came over holding something akin to a lottery box, letting Yelena Hughes and Madeline Forest each draw a ball.

Each had numbers, but their significance was unknown.

Yelena Hughes glanced at hers—it said 4.

"Young Master Yale is here!" Someone greeted enthusiastically.

Yelena Hughes heard those two words, feeling as if facing a great enemy; she sensed the air seemed to stall around her.

Footsteps brushed past her, and Jasper Yale’s peripheral vision caught and recognized the ball in Yelena Hughes’s hand.

The number wasn’t a good omen.

Shawn Thorne held a cigarette, the smoke quickly dispersed by the wind.

"Young Master, did you arrive on schedule?" Just as we were about to start.

Jasper Yale’s tall, slender body leaned against a railing, a rail only reaching a man’s waist.

His voice carried a lazy charm, "What’s the game?"

Shawn Thorne clapped his hands, and on the yacht, a giant searchlight turned towards the southeast side, illuminating the distant lake.

Jasper Yale appeared disinterested, "Still not bored with this?"

"Young Master feels it’s dull?"

He glanced at Yelena Hughes—what was she doing here? Coming along just to earn a few extra bucks with guests?

"Today’s game is something new I came up with," Shawn Thorne gestured toward the far side. "See that? All competitors must give their best to swim to the finish point there. Whoever gets the glass ball wins."

Yelena Hughes squinted into the distance. For safety, a protective net divided the lake in two. Shawn Thorne meant for them to swim to the net edge and back?

It was early winter—jumping in would make one freeze stiff.

The players here often brought female companions, but these so-called companions couldn’t be real girlfriends or wives—they wouldn’t dare play this way.

"Oh dear, what if I drown?"

"It’s so cold, I don’t want to go underwater."

The women feigned reluctance, and the men placated them, "You still want that bag you liked the other day?"

"Perform well later, win, and I’ll buy it for you when we return!"

Yelena Hughes stood where the wind hit hardest, her lips turning purple from the cold.

Shawn Thorne didn’t care whether they wanted to or not, "Shall we begin now?"

"Wait." The cold wind blew, yet Jasper Yale broke the silence.